Vitamin D
Health and happiness comes in pill form
“Winter is coming.” – Ned Stark, Game of Thrones
While we are not yet in danger of
becoming White Walkers, it is
important to prepare your body for
winter and have a firm
understanding
of the changes
your body
goes through
with the cold,
dry air and
lack of
sunshine as
well as to keep
yourself
healthy over
the long dark haul ahead.
In Canada, it is estimated that 60
to 70 percent of people have
inadequate amounts of vitamin D
in their system. This not only puts
Canadians at risk for mental health
issues such as SADs (Seasonal
Affective Disorder) and
depression but vitamin D
deficiency is also a contributing
factor to serious health concerns
such as heart disease and cancer.
How does it work?
Vitamin D or the sunshine drug
isn’t like other vitamins. In fact, it
isn’t a vitamin at all. A vitamin is
defined as an
essential
nutrient your
body must
acquire from
diet. Since our
bodies make
vitamin D
when the skin
is exposed to
the sun it is a
standalone nutrient. This distinct
quality should be taken as an
immediate sign that vitamin D is
important and to be taken
seriously.
When your body receives vitamin
D, either from the skin after sun
exposure or in the supplements
you take, it converts the vitamin D
into a hormone called calcitriol
(activated vitamin D). Hormones
are chemicals that regulate your
body’s physiology. It is important